Investigation of the elevation of saltwater wedge due to subsurface dams

Subsurface dams are rather effective and used for the prevention of saltwater intrusion in coastal regions around the world. We carried out the laboratory experiments to investigate the elevation of saltwater wedge after the construction of subsurface dams. The elevation of saltwater wedge refers to the upward movement of the downstream saltwater wedge because the subsurface dams obstruct the regional groundwater flow and reduce the freshwater discharge. Consequently, the saltwater wedge cannot further extend in the longitudinal direction but rises in the vertical profile resulting in significant downstream aquifer salinization. In order to quantitatively address this issue, field-scale numerical simulations were conducted to explore the influence of various dam heights, distances, and hydraulic gradients on the elevation of saltwater wedge. Our investigation shows that the upward movement of the saltwater wedge and its areal extension in the vertical domain of the downstream aquifer become more severe with a higher dam and performed a great dependence on the freshwater discharge. Furthermore, the increase of the hydraulic gradient and the dam distance from the sea boundary leads to a more pronounced wedge elevation. This phenomenon comes from the variation of the freshwater discharge due to the modification of dam height, location, and hydraulic gradient. Large freshwater discharge can generate greater repulsive force to restrain the elevation of saltwater wedge. These conclusions provide theoretical references for the behaviour of the freshwater–seawater interface after the construction of subsurface dams and help optimize the design strategy to better utilize the coastal groundwater resources.     

Divergence and flow direction as indicators of subsurface heterogeneity and stage‐dependent storage in alluvial floodplains

Assuming homogeneity in alluvial aquifers is convenient, but limits our ability to accurately predict stream‐aquifer interactions. Research is needed on (i) identifying the presence of focused, as opposed to diffuse, groundwater discharge/recharge to streams and (ii) the magnitude and role of large‐scale bank and transient storage in alluvial floodplains relative to changes in stream stage. The objective of this research was to document and quantify the effect of stage‐dependent aquifer heterogeneity and bank storage relative to changes in stream stage using groundwater flow divergence and direction. Monitoring was performed in alluvial floodplains adjacent to the Barren Fork Creek and Honey Creek in northeastern Oklahoma. Based on results from subsurface electrical resistivity mapping, observation wells were installed in high and low electrical resistivity subsoils. Water levels in the wells were recorded real time using pressure transducers (August to October 2009). Divergence was used to quantify heterogeneity (i.e. variation in hydraulic conductivity, porosity, and/or aquifer thickness), and flow direction was used to assess the potential for large‐scale (100 m) bank or transient storage. Areas of localized heterogeneity appeared to act as divergence zones allowing stream water to quickly enter the groundwater system, or as flow convergence zones draining a large groundwater area. Maximum divergence or convergence occurred with maximum rates of change in flow rates or stream stage. Flow directions in the groundwater changed considerably between base and high flows, suggesting that the floodplains acted as large‐scale bank storage zones, rapidly storing and releasing water during passage of a storm hydrograph. During storm events at both sites, the average groundwater direction changed by at least 90° from the average groundwater direction during baseflow. Aquifer heterogeneity in floodplains yields hyporheic flows that are more responsive and spatially and temporally complex than would be expected compared to more common assumptions of homogeneity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploring the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling rates of soil loss from sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau of China

Surface roughness and slope gradient are two important factors influencing soil erosion. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling soil loss from sloping farmland due to water erosion on the Loess Plateau, China. Following the surface features of sloping farmland in the plateau region, we manually prepared rough surfaces using four tillage practices (contour drilling, artificial digging, manual hoeing, and contour plowing), with a smooth surface as the control measure. Five slope gradients (3°, 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20°) and two rainfall intensities (60 and 90 mm/hr) were considered in the artificial rainfall simulation experiment. The results showed that the runoff volume and sediment yield increased with increasing slope gradient under the same tillage treatment. At gentle slope gradients (e.g., 3° and 5°), the increase in surface roughness prevented the runoff and sediment production, that is, the surface roughness reduced the positive effect of slope gradient on the runoff volume and sediment yield to a certain extent. At steep slope gradients, however, the enhancing effect of slope gradient on soil erosion gradually increased and surpassed the reduction effect of surface roughness. This study reveals the existence of a critical slope gradient that influences the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling soil erosion on sloping farmland. If the slope gradient is equal to or less than the critical value, an increase in surface roughness would decrease soil erosion. Otherwise, the increase in surface roughness would be ineffective for preventing soil erosion. The critical slope gradient would be smaller under higher rainfall intensity. These findings are helpful for us to understand the process of soil erosion and relevant for supporting soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau region of China.     

测斜技术原理与作业要点探讨

深层水平位移监测(即测斜)能直接反映土体或支护结构的变形特征,是高风险建筑基坑工程安全的重要保证。本文对测斜技术原理进行了阐述,并根据工程实践经验对测斜监测的作业要点进行了探讨与总结。     

基于性别差异的城市旅游电子地图的设计

城市旅游电子地图是人们出行旅游必备的信息指南。为了设计满足不同性别的旅游用户的需求的城市旅游电子地图,本文分析了基于性别差异用户的认知特点,以及性别差异对旅游电子地图编绘的影响。重点提出了基于性别差异的城市旅游电子地图的内容设计、符号设计和语音功能设计。最后,本文探讨了城市旅游电子地图的编制原则,主要包括内容设计原则、界面设计原则和符号设计原则。基于用户性别进行地图设计的研究思想可以更好地为广大用户提供更加全面翔实的旅游信息和服务。     

利用引力梯度数据计算径向梯度的优化方法

根据重力梯度观测各分量的方差及协方差信息,提出了利用GOCE梯度数据计算径向重力梯度的优化方法。首先给出了径向重力梯度的计算方法,并深入分析了误差传播规律,通过建立相应的条件极值问题,给出了计算径向重力梯度最优组合因子的方法;通过模拟数据验证了本文所提出的优化因子的优越性。实际数据计算表明:相对于传统方法,采用优化组合因子可使反演所得引力位模型的累积大地水准面精度在250阶时提高约2 cm。由于径向重力梯度不仅可以用于地球引力场模型的求解,也可直接应用于地球物理问题的讨论,因此本文所提出的优化方法也可对部分地球动力学问题的讨论提供方便。     

纹理特征向量与最大化熵法相结合的SAR影像非监督变化检测

合成孔径雷达(SAR)影像具有明显的斑点噪声,在变化检测中,一般需要考虑空间邻域信息。本文结合SAR影像丰富的纹理信息,提出一种考虑空间邻域信息的高分辨率SAR影像非监督变化检测方法,用基于灰度共生矩阵(GLCM)的32维纹理特征向量构造差异影像。通过最大化熵法自动选取阈值,对精度指标随窗口大小的变化进行回归分析,得到适合于变化检测的窗口为11×11。试验表明,本文方法优于马尔科夫随机场法,可以减小斑点噪声的影响,有效提高高分辨率SAR影像变化检测的精度。     

云蒙湖流域不同坡度的土壤侵蚀特征

针对定量分析土壤侵蚀在各坡度等级上的空间分布研究较少的现状,该文选用通用的土壤流失预报方程,对云蒙湖流域1986—2010年间的土壤水力侵蚀状况进行了定量的估算,以探讨不同坡度上的土壤侵蚀特征,并进一步分析了土壤侵蚀变化与人类活动的关系。分析得出:土壤侵蚀强度发生在人类活动比较频繁的区域上(8~25°坡度)更为严重;2010年比1986年强度以上所占比例在15°坡度等级上相对更低,在15°坡度等级上有所增加;云蒙湖流域主要土壤侵蚀量发生在25°坡度上;2010年比1986年耕地面积减少、林地和居民用地面积增加是土壤侵蚀降低的主要因素。     

Seismic attenuation estimation using a complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition-based method

The frequency attenuation gradient method can provide important information for hydrocarbon detection. In this paper, a method using Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (CEEMD), Hilbert transform and the least-squares curve-fitting is proposed for seismic attenuation estimation as an effective frequency attenuation gradient estimation approach. We first use CEEMD to obtain the different Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs), which have a narrow band and can enhance the physical meaning of instantaneous attributes trace by trace. The time-frequency spectrum, which is computed using a Hilbert transform of each IMF, is represented as a spectrum with a single-peak that has narrow side lobes, which is conducive to frequency attenuation gradient estimation. Second, for each time sample, the frequency-amplitude spectrum of each IMF trace is extracted from the time-frequency spectrum to conduct the attenuation gradient computation. Then, the logarithm operation is performed for each IMF trace. Due to the very narrow bands of some IMFs in some seismic traces, a variable frequency window is adopted along the IMF trace according to the local data characteristics. Finally, the attenuation gradient for each IMF in a seismic trace can be computed using least-squares fitting. A different IMF reflects a seismic trace with a different spatiotemporal scale and can highlight different geologic and stratigraphic information. The correlation weighted average operation is used to highlight some useful details in seismic trace and obtains the attenuation gradient for each seismic trace. Field data examples demonstrate our method and its effectiveness. The proposed method can stably estimate the frequency attenuation gradient.     

地物化方法在航磁异常查证中的应用

航磁异常查证是矿产勘查中的一个重要环节,其目的是通过地面查证,确定异常是否存在,追踪异常源,了解异常源所处的地质环境,对异常作出客观评价,提出进一步工作的建议,为后续资料解释提供依据.通过使用地物化综合方法对黑C-2011-02243号异常查证发现：地质剖面测量和土壤地球化学测量可在地表发现较好的找矿线索;高精度磁测及激电中梯测量则反映了深部地质体及矿化特征.依据查证结果认为,在进行航磁异常查证工作时,可优先进行剖面性的地质、高精度磁法及土壤地球化学测量工作;在分析上述测量结果的基础上安排剖面性的电法测量;如存在进一步找矿信息,可安排面积性物化探测量及工程验证工作.